Little A&A: City Walk Vs. Downtown Disney

Photo taken by Lyndsay Fuller.

Universal Studios Orlando has just opened the Hollywood Drive-In Golf in City Walk. City Walk is known for it hot nightclubs and themed restaurants, not necessarily for it’s “kid-friendly” activities. Compared to Downtown Disney’s the Market Place, what is left of Pleasure Island, and the West Side, how does City Walk size up against Disney’s entertainment hot spots? 

Disney made the decision in the summer of 2008 to shut down all of its six nightclubs in Pleasure Island. Rumors explained Disney had to make the area more “kid-friendly” because Pleasure Island was bringing in too rough of a crowd for Downtown Disney audiences. Filled with young adults, 21 years and up, Pleasure Island was extremely popular. 

A lot of my Disney friends, who were old enough to go, gave it raving reviews. Others reported Pleasure Island was so hot “that some in the industry have blamed it for accelerating the decline of the nightlife district in downtown Orlando during the 1990s.” As a teenager I could not wait to be 21 so that I could enjoy the entertainment available in Pleasure Island. 

Now, 4 years later, City Walk has replaced what Pleasure Island used to be. City Walk, which caters to a couples date night or a night out on the town with friends, is not what I would call "family-friendly." So why did they put in a mini golf course? I mean unless I misunderstood, and this mini golf course is geared for adults, it does not fit with the other attractions offered. But how often are you like “Hey, babe you want to get dressed up and go to dancing AND have a competitive golf game?” 

City Walk, other than the new mini golf, has not catered to family-friendly activities. The AMC theater has a full bar, most clubs are 21 years and up to get in, and most of the shops do not even sell toys. Compared to the Disney’s Marketplace, who has Characters in Flight, Once Upon a Toy, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, and DisneyQuest, City Walk does not size up when discussing family-friendly activities like a put-put course. They should stick with what they know and take advantage of having the only theme park owned nightclubs in Orlando.  

City Walk Vs Downtown Disney? What do you think?

Links Used:
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2008-06-28/news/disney28_1_pleasure-island-downtown-disney-downtown-orlando

http://www.universalorlando.com/Nightlife/Citywalk-Nightlife.aspx

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/downtown-disney/

http://www.orlandounited.com/forums/showthread.php?1207-CityWalk-vs-Downtown-Disney